Unitary container for a food product

ABSTRACT

A unitary circular container for receiving a food product, the container having a segmented floor and a side wall around the periphery of the floor. The floor has a central support core extending upward to the level of the side wall and an odd number of camming surfaces extending radially from the side wall to the central support core. The camming surfaces serve to direct the food product into the segmented portions.

United States Patent 1191 Paulucci 14 May 21, 1974 UNITARY CONTAINER FOR A FOOD 3,485,434 12/1969 Donovan et a1. 229/25 P CT 3,563,445 2/1971 Clayton 229/25 1 12,967,002 l/1961 Lammers 229/25 5] Inventor: Jeno F. Paulucci, Duluth, Mmn. 1 1,841,494 1/1932 Mears 99/92 [73] Assignee: Jenos, Inc., Deluth, Minn. P E G E L rimary xammer e'orge owrance [22] 7 Assistant Examiner-Steven M. Pollard [21] 'Appl. No.: 202,081

[57] ABSTRACT figgg A unitary circular container for receiving a food prod- I Iva u v u I u l a u a r u I I I l a a I u a I u u l s 0 a ln llblll ltv a a [58] Field of Search 220/20 5 6? wall around the periphery of the floor. The floor has a central support core extending upward to the level of the side wall and an odd number of camming surfaces [56] Reierences cued extending radially from the side wall to the central UNITED S T PATENTS -support core. The cammi ng surfaces serve to direct 3,398,827 8/1968v Laskin'.....-....'..... 220/23.83 the food product into the segmented portions. 2,951,610 9/1960 Smalley 220/20 3,253,762 5/ 1966 Gaunt 229/25 4 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SATENTED HAY 2 1 I974 SHEHlBFZ UNITARY CONTAINER FOR A FOOD PRODUCT The invention relates to a unitary circular container for receiving 'a food product. More particularly, the invention relates to a container having a floor divided into segmented portions. A central support core is centered on the floor and a side wall extends around the periphery of the floor. The floor has an odd number of camming surfaces for dividingthe floor into the segmented portions. Each of the camming s urfaces extends radially from the central support core to the side wall.

An advantage of the invention is that a high degree of structural strength is imparted to the container by the unique structural configuration of the container. This allows the container to be made from light-weight materials which are easily shaped to form the container. As a result, shipping costs are reduced. Furthermore, the .containercan be easily compacted to facilitate waste disposal or recycling of the container once the structural configuration of the container is destroyed.

Another advantage of the invention is the provision of a non-stick surfaceon the floor of the container to prevent the food product stored in'the container from adhering to the floor.

One form of the invention is demonstrated in the drawings, in which:

' FIG. 1 is a partially cut-away top view of a container of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational side view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the container of FIG.-l; and I 1 FIG..4 is a cro'ss-sectionalview of the container of FIG. 1 taken along line 4.--4.

Referring to FIG. 1, a'unitary container for receiving a food product is indicated generally by the numeral 10. The container preferably is enclosed by a cover 12 for protecting the food product stored in the container 10. The container 10 is particularly useful for storing afood product, such as a pizza, which is divided into segments for consumption. However, other food products such as piesand other products can also be stored in the container 10 and the invention is not limited to use with a particular type of food product.

In using the container 10, the food product to be received by the container is cut into segments and placed in the container. The food product can be frozen prior to or after introduction to the container 10 and then 'reheated before the food product is consumed by the purchaser.

The'container'l0 includes a segmented floor l4 having a central support core 16. The segmented floor 14 is generally circular in shape with the support core 16 being centered on the floor 14.

Referring to FIG. 2, a side wall 18 slopes outwardly toward the top of the container 10 and extends around the periphery of the floor 14. The side wall 18 includes a shoulder 20 located at the upper edge of the side wall. The shoulder 20 provides a surface for receiving the cover 12 on the container 10. The shoulder 20 of the side wall 18 has'a' peripherallip22 which is formed of a malleable-material and can be bent downwardly to hold the cover 12 in place on the shoulder 20..v

A plurality'of camming surfaces 24 extend radially from theside wall 18 to the central support core l6.

I tends upward from the base of the floor 14 to thelevel The camming surfaces 24 divide the floor 14 into segmented portions for receiving the food product to be placed in the container 10. The camming surfaces 24 provide an additional function when a food product is placed in the container 10. In this case, the camming surfaces 24 operate to direct portions of the food product into the segmented portions of the floor 14.

Referring to FIG. 3, a bottom view of the container 10 is illustrated. The floor 14 of the container 10 utilizes an odd number of camming surfaces 24 which are evenly spaced around the circumference of the floor 14. This results in each camming surface 24 being arranged in a Y-shaped configuration with respect to a pair of directly opposing camming surfaces 24. Thus, no camming surfaces 24 lie on a diameter with an opposing camming. surface. This relationship provides high structural strength for the container 10 since if an even number of camming surfaces were utilized directly opposing camming surfaces would lie along a diameter of the modified container and provide a structural bending line for the modified container. Forces applied to the container would tend to cause buckling of the modified container along the bending line ming surfaces 24 to provide nine segmented portions in the container 10. However, any desiredodd number of segmented portions formed from an odd number of camming surfaces 24 can be utilized. Thus, if desired, seven camming surfaces 24 could be utilized to form seven segmented portions in the container 10.

The diameter of the container 10 is larger than the diameter of the food product to be placed in the container. For example, when a 10 k inch pizza or other food product is to'be stored in the container 10, the container is approximately 12 inches in diameter. This permits the segments of the pizza to be displaced radially outward and positioned in the container 10 by the camming surfaces 24.

Referring to FIG. 4, the central support core 16 exof the shoulder 20 on the side wall 18. In this position, the central support core 16 serves as a support member for the cover 12. The central support core 16 includes a recessed portion 26 which provides additional strength to the central support core 16.

The camming surfaces 24 extend upward from the base of the floor 14 to a level midway between the base of the floor 14 and the shoulder 20 of the side wall 18'. This relationship between the level of the camming surfaces 24 and the central support core 16 provides additional structural strength to the container 10. The particular camming surface 24' illustrates the contour of the camming surfaces 24. The camming surface 24' has a cross-sectional shape in the form of an inverted V. The shape of the camming'surface 24' serves to direct the food product placed into the container 10 into alignment with one .of the segmented portions of the I. container 10 lying between adjacent camming surfaces.

The container is preferably formed from a heavy metal foil, such as aluminum or another suitable metal. The use of a heavy metal foil to form the container 10 results in a light-weight container which may be easily shaped to form the container 10. Due to the unique structural configuration of the container, high strength can be achieved for the container 10 while utilizing light-weight and consequently low strength materials, such as metal foil, to form the container.

The light-weight metal foil lowers shipping costs and additionally the use of a metal foil facilitates the disposal of the container after the food product placed in the container 10 is consumed. Once the structural configuration of the container 10 is destroyed, the container 10 may be easily compacted, since the container 10 is formed of metal foil.

It is to be understood that various modifications can be made to the disclosed container without departing from the scope of the invention, and it is intended to cover in the impended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is desired to be claimed and secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A unitary circular container formed from a sheet of metal foil for receiving a food product, said container having a floor divided into segmented portions, said floor defining a base for the container, a central support core centered on said floor, and a side wall extending around the periphery of said floor, said floor having an odd number of camming surfaces for dividing said floor into said segmented portions, said side wall having a shoulder on an upper edge thereof for receiving a cover and lip for holding the cover on said shoulder, each of said camming surfaces extending radially from said central support core to said side wall, said camming surfaces being arranged on said floor with no two camming surfaces lying on a diameter of said floor, said camming surfaces extending upward to a level midway between the base of said floor and the upper edge of said side wall, said central support core extending upward to a level substantially even with the upper edge of said side wall and having a recessed portion for strengthening said core.

2. The unitary circular container of claim 1 wherein said floor has a waffled surface for strengthening said floor and preventing the food product from adhering to 

1. A unitary circular container formed from a sheet of metal foil for receiving a food product, said container having a floor divided into segmented portions, said floor defining a base for the container, a central support core centered on said floor, and a side wall extending around the periphery of said floor, said floor having an odd number of camming surfaces for dividing said floor into said segmented portions, said side wall having a shoulder on an upper edge thereof for receiving a cover and lip for holding the cover on said shoulder, each of said camming surfaces extending radially from said central support core to said side wall, said camming surfaces being arranged on said floor with no two camming surfaces lying on a diameter of said floor, said camming surfaces extending upward to a level midway between the base of said floor and the upper edge of said side wall, said central support core extending upward to a level substantially even with the upper edge of said side wall and having a recessed portion for strengthening said core.
 2. The unitary circular container of claim 1 wherein said floor has a waffled surface for strengthening said floor and preventing the food product from adhering to said floor. 